Hydraulic door closer



Aug. 11, 1964 B. A, QUINN HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER Filed May l2. 1961 INVEN TOR. .BER r A. Qu//wv AT TOFPNEYS United States Patent 3,143,757HYDRAULC DOGR CLOSER Bert A. Quinn, St. Paul, Minn., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Ideal Brass Works, Incorporated, St. Pani, Minn., acorporation of Minnesota Filed May 12, 1961, Ser. No. 109,702 4 Claims.(Cl. 16-57) My invention relates generally to door closers, and moreparticularly to improvements in such closers which utilize springs forimparting closing movements to a door and iiuid pressure for controllingsaid closing movements.

Door closers heretofore utilizing hydraulic means for controlling theclosing of a door have necessarily used elaborate and expensive sealingmeans to prevent leakage of the liquid employed therein from themechanism. Such sealing devices are subject to wear and occasionalservicing. Moreover, while hydraulically controlled door closers operatemore smoothly than pneumatically controlled closers, the hydraulicallycontrolled closers have been heretofore more expensive to produce thanpneumatic closers of similar general construction.

More specifically, my present invention relates to door closers of theso-called tubular type, using a pair of axially telescoping members onepivotally secured to a door frame and the other to a cooperating doorhinged to the door frame, and an important object of my invention is theprovision of a hydraulic door closer which utilizes a minimum of space,and in which leakage of the liquid from the mechanism is held to aminimum over extended periods of use.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a door closer, of theabove type, which is smooth in its operation, and which does not requireadjustment.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel doorcloser structure in which any liquid which might escape from thehydraulic cylinder is automatically utilized to lubricate other vpartsof the mechanism.

. Another object of my invention is the provision of a hydraulic doorcloser having a minimum area through Whichliquid might leak outwardly ofthe cylinder in which it is confined, and of simple and inexpensiveseing means for preventing leakage of said liquid from the cylinder.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a door closer as setforth which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, which isquiet and eiiicient in operation, and which is rugged in constructionand durable 1n use.

'The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages ofmy invention, will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews:

FIG.- l is a fragmentary view in horizontal section of a door frame anddoors hinged therein, illustrating in top plan a hydraulic door closermade in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section taken substantially onthe line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line4 4 of FIG. 2.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, and more particularly toFIG. l, conventional wall structure 1 is shown as being provided with adoor frame 2 including frame members 3 and 4, to the latter of which ishingedlymounted an inner door 5, as indicated at 6,

32,143,757 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 ICC and to which is further hinged anouter door 7, as indicated at 8. The usual threshold associated with thedoor frame, is indicated at 9.

My improved door closer comprises an outer cylinder 1i) and an innercylinder 11 concentric with the outer cylinder 10 and axiallytelescopically slidable therein. The outer cylinder 10 includes acylindrical Wall 12 that is rigidly secured to an outer end wall formingmember 13, the opposite or inner end of the cylindrical wall 12 beingprovided with an annular ange or ring 14 which provides the inner endwall of the cylinder 10. The member 13 provides a closed liuid tightinner end for the outer cylinder 10 and is adapted to be pivotallysecured to the outer door 7 by means of a bracket 15 that is screwed orotherwise rigidly secured to the door 7. The outer end wall formingmember 13 is formed to provide an axially outwardly opening cup-shapedportion 16 and a reduced neck portion 17, the bracket 15 having hookelements 18 that are received within the cuplike portion 16, and otherhook-like elements 19 that loosely engage the outer surface of thebottom of the cup-like portion 16 at diametrically opposite sides of thereduced neck 17. The cup-like portion 16 and bracket 15 are well knownto those skilled in the art, and in themselves, do not comprise theinstant invention.

The inner cylinder 11 includes a cylindrical wall 2t) and a pair ofinner and outer end wall forming members 21 and 22 respectively. Asshown in FIG. 2, the inner end portion of the cylindrical wall 20 isdiametrically enlarged to receive the inner end wall forming member 21,together with a pair of sealing washers 23 and a retaining washer 24.Both members 21 and 22 are provided with annular grooves containingsealing rings 25, the opposite end portions of the cylindrical Wall 20being crimped, as indicated at 26, to anchor the members 21 and 22 inplace, as well as to compress the sealing rings 25 suiiciently toprovide a liquid tight seal. The outer end wall forming member 22 isformed to provide a lug 27 that is received in a bifurcated bracket 28and pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot pin or the like 29.

extending through aligned apertures in the bracket 28 and lug 27, thebracket 28 being screwed or otherwise rigidly secured to the door framemember 4, see FIG. l. As is usual with door closers of the tubular type,the axis of the pivot pin 29 is parallel to the axis of swingingmovement of the cup-shaped portion 16 with respect to its bracket 15,and to the axis of the door hinge 8.

The cylindrical walls 12 and 2t) of the outer and inner cylinders 1t)and 11 respectively form the outer and inner walls of an annular chamber30 in which is disposed a coil compression spring 31. The inner wallforming member 21 of the inner cylinder 11 is formed to provide aradially outwardly projecting annular flange 32 which denes one end ofthe chamber 30, the opposite end thereof being defined by the lange orring 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the opposite ends of the compression spring31 abut the flanges 32 and 14, the spring 31 yieldingly urging thecylinders 10 and 11 toward a fully telescoped relationship, thearrangement being such that, when the cylinders 1t) and 11 are close totheir fully telescoped relationship, the door 7 is in its closedposition. When the door '7 is opened, the cylinders 10 and 11 moveaxially relative to each other in a direction to compress the spring 31,yielding bias of the spring 31 closing the door 7 when the same isreleased.

For the purpose of controlling door closing movement of the cylinders1t) and 11 imparted thereto by the spring 31, l provide a piston 33disposed within the inner cylinder 11, and a cooperating piston rod 34,one end portion of which is rigidly mounted in the piston 33, asindicated at 35. The piston rod 34 extends axially of the inner cylinder11 and through aligned central openings in' the inner yend Wall formingmember 21, sealing Washers 23 and retaining washer 24, and axiallyslidable therein. As shown in FIG. 2, the extreme end portion 36 of thepiston rod 34 is embedded in the outer end wall forming member 13 of theouter cylinder 19, and is anchored therein against movement relativethereto. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the. interior or the inner cylinder11 is l'led with suitable liquid 37, said liquid 37 preferably beingcommercial hydraulic brake iiuid such as is commonly used in thehydraulic brake systems of automotive vehicles, and being of the typewhich does not change appreciably in viscosity under extreme changes internperature.

It will be readily seen that, the piston 33 being rigidly connected tothe outer end wall forming member 13 of the outer cylinder 10, will moveaxially relative to the inner cylinder 11 during opening and closingmovements of the door 7. The piston 33. comprises a body 38 that has adiameter substantially less than the inner diameter of theA cylinderWall 20. The body 38 is formed to prov ide a radially outwardly openingannular channel 39 intermediate its ends, one side 40 of the channel 39being ilat and transverse to the axis of the body 38, the opposite, side41 of the channel being frusto-conical and diverging from the side 40 ina direction radially outwardly of the body 38. The outer cylindricalsurfaces of the body 38 at opposite sides of the channel 39 cooperatewith the inner wall surface of the cylindrical wall 24) to deiineannular passages 42 and 43, see particularly FIG. 3, that extend fromopposite ends of the body 3S of the piston 33 to the channel 39 thereof.A piston ring 44 is contained in the channel 39, and is preferably inthe nature of a conventional rubber-like y-ring, the axial dimensionthereof being substantially less than the axial dimension of theradially outer portion of the channel 39, whereby the ring 44 is capableof axial movement relative to the body 38Y of the piston 33. Further,with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it willbe seen that the body 38 isprovided with aligned axially extending passages 45 and 46, the passage45 extending4 inwardly from one end of the piston 33 and communicatingwith the bottom portion of the channel 39 radially inwardly of thepiston ring 44, the

passage 46 extending inwardly from the opposite end ofY the body 38 andcommunicating with the channel 39 through a portion of the passage 45.

' It will be noted, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, that movement ofthe piston 33 to -the left relative to the inner cylinder 11 causes thepiston ring 44 to engage the side 40 of the channel 39 whereby tooperatively open the annular passage 43 and -close the annular passage42, whereby to permit relatively free ow of the liquid 37 through theannular passage 43 and the relatively large passage 45. This movement ofthe liquid 37 occurs during opening movements of the door 7, andsubjects theliquid 37 between the piston 33 and the inner end Wallforming member 21 to aV relatively low positive pressure not suicient tocause leakage of the liquid through the sealing washers 23 and the axialopening in the end wall forming member 21 through which the piston rod34 extends. When the piston 33 moves to the right of FIGS. 2 and 3relative to the inner cylinder 11, during closing movements of the door,the piston ring 42 moves axially into engagement with the frusto-conicalWall 41 of the channel 39 to operatively open the annular passage 42 andclose the annular passage 43. When this occurs, the liquid 37 ows Vfromthe right hand end portion of the cylinder 11 to the left hand endportion thereof through the annular passage 42 and the passage 45 to therelatively small diameter passage 46 which restricts the ilow of liquidand effectively retards closing movements of the door 7. During closingmovements of the door 7, imparted thereto by the coil compression spring31, the pressure of the liquid 37 to the right of the piston 33 isconsiderably greater than that in the cylinder 11 to the left 4 of thepiston 33. The snug tit between the outer end wall forming member 22 andthe adjacent end portion of the cylindrical wall 20, and the sealingeffect of the sealing ring 25 prevents escape of the liquid 37 from theouter end of the inner cylinder 11. Should leakage of the liquid 37through the end wall 21 occur, the escaping liquid g will be containedwithin the outer cyinder 10 and act as a lubricant for the inner wallsurface of the cylindrical wall 12, the spring 31, the flange 32, andthe flange 14. In any event, the sealing washers 23 will prevent leakageof the liquid 37 from the inner cylinder 11 in a sucient quantity tocause escape thereof from the annular chamber 30.

My invention has been thoroughly tested, and found to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and,while I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my presentdoor closer, it will be understood that the same is capable ofmodification without departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hydraulic door closer, a pair of concentric telescoping innerand outer cylinders having closed fluid tight outer ends, each of saidcylinders having a portion axially slidably engaging the other of saidcylinders, means on the closed outer ends of said cylinders for con-ynecting said closed outer ends one to a door frame and the other to acooperating door hinged to said door frame,

the inner end of said cylinder having an axial openingvv portion of saidinner cylinder to the other end portionA thereof responsive to relativeaxial movements of said inner cylinder and piston.

2. In a hydraulic door closer, a pair of concentric telescoping innerand outer cylinders having closed fluid tightk outer ends and definingtherebetween an annular chamber, each of said cylinders having a guideportion axiallyV slidably engaging the other of saidy cylinders, meansonY the closed outer ends of said cylinders for connecting saidl closedouter ends one to a door frame and the other to a cooperating doorhinged tosaid door frame, the inner end of said inner cylinder having anaxial opening-therethrough, a piston in said inner cylinder, .a pistonrod extending Slidably through said axial opening and 'securedl at oneend to saidpiston and at its other. end to the closed outer end portionof said outer cylinder, a coil compression spring encompassing saidinner cylinder in said annular chamber, the opposite ends of said springengaging said guide portions of said inner and outer cylinders andyieldingly urging said cylinders in directions of relative axialmovement thereof toward a fully telescoped relationship and said pistontoward one end portion of said inner cylinder, said inner cylindercontaining liquid, and valve means operatively associated with saidpiston for controlling ow of liquid from one end portion of said innercylinder to the other end portion thereof responsive to relative axialmovements of said inner cylinder and piston.

3. In a hydraulic door closer, a pair of concentric tele-VV frame andthe other to a cooperatingdoor hinged to said door frame, the inner endof said inner cylinder havingV an axial opening therethrough, a pistonaxially movable in said inner cylinder, an axial piston rod extendingslidably through said axial opening and having one end secured to saidpiston for axial movements therewith relative to said inner cylinder,the other end of said piston rod being rigidly secured to the closedouter end portion of said outer cylinder, the inner ends of said innerand outer cylinders having annular ilanges defining opposite annular endWall portions of said annular chamber and each having axial slidingengagement with the other cylin der whereby to maintain said cylindersin concentric relationship, and a coil compression spring encompassingsaid inner cylinder and interposed between said annular anges, saidspring yieldingly urging said cylinders in directions of relative axialmovement thereof toward a fully telescopcd relationship and said pistontoward the outer end portion of said inner cylinder, said inner cylindercontaining liquid, said piston including valve means for controllingflow of said liquid from one end portion of said inner cylinder to theother end portion thereof responsive to relative axial movements of saidinner cylinder and piston.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said piston comprises agenerally cylindrical body having a radially outwardly openingcircumferential channel intermediate its ends and an elastic piston ringin said channel, the

inner wall surface of said inner cylinder and the outer cylindricalsurfaces of said body cooperating to dene annular passages betweenopposite ends of said piston and said channel, said piston ring engagingsaid inner Wall surface of the inner cylinder and axially movable inopposite directions relative to said body to selectively open each ofsaid annular passages and close the other thereof, said body having arelatively large diameter passage and a relatively small diameterpassage, each of said lastmentioned passages having its inner endcommunicating with the bottom portion of said channel radially inwardlyof said piston ring and extending therefrom in a direction axially ofsaid body to a different end thereof, said piston ring constituting avalve element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,171,497 Berry Feb. 15, 1916 1,455,691 West May 15, 1923 2,948,915 VoseAug. 16, 1960 3,028,620 Quinn Apr. 10, 1962 3,053,199 Brox et al Sept.11, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 453,104 Canada Dec. 7, 1948

1. IN A HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER, A PAIR OF CONCENTRIC TELESCOPING INNERAND OUTER CYLINDERS HAVING CLOSED FLUID TIGHT OUTER ENDS, EACH OF SAIDCYLINDERS HAVING A PORTION AXIALLY SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE OTHER OF SAIDCYLINDERS, MEANS ON THE CLOSED OUTER ENDS OF SAID CYLINDERS FORCONNECTING SAID CLOSED OUTER ENDS ONE TO A DOOR FRAME AND THE OTHER TO ACOOPERATING DOOR HINGED TO SAID DOOR FRAME, THE INNER END OF SAIDCYLINDER HAVING AN AXIAL OPENING THERETHROUGH, A PISTON IN SAID INNERCYLINDER, A PISTON ROD EXTENDING SLIDABLY THROUGH SAID AXIAL OPENING ANDSECURED AT ONE END TO SAID PISTON AND AT ITS OTHER END TO THE CLOSEDOUTER END PORTION OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER, AND YIELDING MEANS BIASING ONEOF SAID CYLINDERS IN ONE DIRECTION OF AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THEOTHER OF SAID CYLINDERS, WHEREBY TO IMPART RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENTS TOSAID PISTON AND INNER CYLINDER, SAID INNER CYLINDER CONTAINING LIQUID,AND VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PISTON FOR CONTROLLINGFLOW OF SAID LIQUID FROM ONE END PORTION OF SAID INNER CYLINDER TO THEOTHER END PORTION THEREOF RESPONSIVE TO RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENTS, OFSAID INNER CYLINDER AND PISTON.